Step into a world of timeless elegance with a garment that blends classic romance and modern silhouette shaping. Crafted with a sweetheart neckline, delicate cap sleeves, and a dramatic flared peplum hem, this piece drapes effortlessly to flatter your frame in every light.
This exquisite project utilizes basic and intermediate stitches including ch, sc, hdc, dc, and openwork fan lace stitches, designed to fit an adult size range from XS to 3XL, requiring approximately 25 to 35 hours of meditative crocheting; it makes a breathtaking heirloom-quality gift for yourself or a cherished loved one.
Sizing customization tips are included later in the pattern to help you achieve a personalized fit.
What Makes This Romantic Scalloped Lace Peplum Top Special
This design achieves its signature romantic aesthetic through a meticulous combination of architectural construction and delicate openwork styling. The bodice is worked in a dense, supportive stitch structure to provide structure and comfort at the bust, featuring a gracefully sculpted sweetheart neckline and integrated cap sleeves. Transitioning at the waist, the garment opens into an expansive, airy fan lace peplum that flares gently over the hips. The interplay between the solid, structured upper torso and the sheer, scalloped lace hem creates a striking visual balance, while the soft sheen of mercerized cotton highlights every detail of the stitchwork.
Skill Level
- Intermediate: Comfortable working in the round and flat.
- Familiarity with openwork lace anatomy and reading stitch charts (though written instructions are provided).
- Experience blocking lace garments to open up delicate motifs.
💡 Designer Tip: If you are new to working intricate fan lace borders, take time to practice a small gauge swatch of the lace motif first to master your tension.
Finished Measurements
| Size | Bust (Inches / cm) | Waist (Inches / cm) | Total Length (Inches / cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 30–32″ (76–81 cm) | 24–25″ (61–64 cm) | 21″ (53 cm) |
| S | 34–36″ (86–91 cm) | 26–28″ (66–71 cm) | 21.5″ (55 cm) |
| M | 38–40″ (97–102 cm) | 30–32″ (76–81 cm) | 22″ (56 cm) |
| L (Large) | 42–44″ (107–112 cm) | 34–36″ (86–91 cm) | 23″ (58 cm) |
| XL | 46–48″ (117–122 cm) | 38–40″ (97–102 cm) | 23.5″ (60 cm) |
| 2XL | 50–52″ (127–132 cm) | 42–44″ (107–112 cm) | 24.5″ (62 cm) |
| 3XL | 54–56″ (137–142 cm) | 46–48″ (117–122 cm) | 25″ (64 cm) |
Materials You Will Need
- Yarn: Fine weight (#2 / Sport weight) 100% mercerized cotton yarn.
- Hook: US E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge).
- Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers (4), flexible measuring tape.
| Color | Yarn Type | Yardage / Meters Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Dusty Lilac | 100% Mercerized Cotton (#2 Sport) | 1,100–1,650 yds (1,005–1,508 m) |
Yarn Suggestions
| Brand & Line Name | Yarn Weight | Skein Yardage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schachenmayr Catania | Sport (#2) | 137 yds (125 m) per 50g | Exceptional stitch definition and mercerized sheen. |
| Knit Picks Comfy Sport | Sport (#2) | 136 yds (124 m) per 50g | Cotton-acrylic blend offering soft drape and breathability. |
| Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/8 | DK/Sport (#2) | 82 yds (75 m) per 50g | 100% pure cotton with vibrant color retention. |
⚠️ Note: Avoid heavy 100% wool or chunky synthetic acrylic yarns for this project, as they will compromise the delicate lace drape and cause the peplum to flare too stiffly rather than cascading softly.
Gauge
| Stitch / Pattern | Gauge over 4″ x 4″ (10 cm x 10 cm) |
|---|---|
| Bodice Stitch (hdc) | 22 sts x 16 rows |
| Fan Lace Motif | 2 full lace pattern repeats across 4 rows |
✅ Checkpoint: Always make and block your gauge swatch before starting. Getting the correct gauge ensures your finished garment matches the intended sizing chart.
Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full Term |
|---|---|
| alt | alternate |
| beg | beginning |
| ch | chain |
| dc | double crochet |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| rep | repeat |
| sc | single crochet |
| sk | skip |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sp(s) | space(s) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| tr | treble crochet |
| WS | wrong side |
| RS | right side |
Special Stitches Explained
- Fan Lace Shell (FLS): Work
(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc)into the designated ch-2 space or stitch. - Extended Fan (EFan): Work
(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc)into the designated ch-3 space. - Sweetheart Decrease (SwDec): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), skip next st, insert hook in following st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Pattern Instructions
Section 1: Front Bodice
Row 1 (RS): Ch 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132). Working in the back bumps of the foundation chain, hdc in 3rd ch from hook (skipped 2 chs count as first hdc), hdc in each ch across, turn. (83 [91, 99, 107, 115, 123, 131] hdc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), hdc in next st, work SwDec over next 2 sts, hdc to last 4 sts, work SwDec over next 2 sts, hdc in last 2 sts, turn. (79 [87, 95, 103, 111, 119, 127] sts)
Rows 3–12: Rep Row 2, decreasing 4 sts per row to shape the sweetheart waist curve. (39 [47, 55, 63, 71, 79, 87] hdc)
✅ Checkpoint: Measure your waist shaping at Row 12 to ensure it aligns with your target size measurement before proceeding to the bust-up shaping.
Section 2: Back Bodice (Work 1 solid panel)
Work two identical panels following the instructions for the Front Bodice (Section 1) up to Row 12. Fasten off after completing the second back panel.
Section 3: Cap Sleeves, Central Lace Panel, & Shoulder Join
Row 1: Join yarn at the outer shoulder edge of the Front Bodice. Ch 1, sc across the top shoulder edge, adding 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) chain stitches along the outer edge for the cap sleeve extension, join to corresponding Back Bodice shoulder. Fasten off. Repeat for the second shoulder.
Section 4: Waist Peplum (Worked in rows across the front and back panels)
Round 1: Join yarn at the side seam of the joined bodice base. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work dc evenly around the entire bottom circumference of the waist, working approximately 1 dc for every row end and st, sl st to top of beg ch-3 to join. (120 [132, 144, 156, 168, 180, 192] dc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, hdc in first sc to create a working corner sp. (30 [33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48] ch-3 sps)*
Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), work (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same starting sp (FLS made), work FLS in each ch-3 sp around, sl st to top of beg ch-3 to join. (30 [33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48] FLS)*
Round 4–10: Sl st across to the first ch-2 sp of the FLS, ch 3, work FLS in each ch-2 sp around, sl st to join. (30 [33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48] FLS)
Round 11 (Lace Expansion): Sl st to first ch-2 sp, ch 3, work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) (EFan) in each ch-2 sp around, sl st to join. (30 [33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48] EFans)
Round 12: Sl st into the first EFan center sp, ch 1, work 7 tr in each ch-3 sp around, sl st to beg sc to close. Fasten off.
✅ Checkpoint: Verify all lace fan repeats lie flat and evenly spaced before weaving in final ends. Block the finished peplum with pins to open up the delicate fan stitches.
Section 5: Finishing & Assembly
Seam the shoulder lines using an invisible mattress stitch. Seam both side seams from the underarm down to the waist transition line, leaving the lace peplum unseamed at the lower sides for natural flare movement. Weave in all loose ends securely using a tapestry needle.
Size Customization Tips
- To go up a size: Add 8 foundation chains (one full lace motif repeat) to your starting chain count for every size increase, and work 2 additional rows of fan lace repeats on the peplum.
- To go down a size: Subtract 8 foundation chains from your starting chain count, and omit 1 row of the lace expansion rounds.
- Length adjustments: You can easily customize the bodice length by adding or subtracting straight hdc rows before beginning the waist shaping, or lengthen the peplum by repeating Round 4 additional times before working the final lace expansion round.
Care Instructions
Hand wash gently in cool water using a mild, wool-safe or delicate detergent. Do not wring or twist the fabric. Press out excess moisture gently by rolling the top in a clean, dry towel. Lay flat to dry on a blocking mat, shaping the sweetheart neckline and pinning out the scalloped lace peplum flounce to its exact finished measurements to showcase the openwork stitch definition.
Thank you so much for joining me on this lovely crochet journey! I truly hope you enjoy creating and wearing your new Romantic Scalloped Lace Peplum Top as much as I loved designing it for you.
If you share your finished piece on Instagram or social media, please tag me so I can admire your gorgeous work! Don’t forget to save this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later, and leave a comment below to share which colorway you chose for your top. Happy crocheting!
📄 Your free PDF pattern